The Hero of Time
-In Dreams-
o0o
The night echoed with the sound of thunder as lightning flashes illuminated the turbulent sky, giving the boy only brief glimpses of his surroundings. He kept his head down, protecting his face from the stinging rain. In the distance stood his objective, an enormous structure crafted from stone and mortar. He didn't know why he was traveling to this place or even why he left the forest, only that there was...something...he had to do behind the imposing walls. He pressed on, trying to ignore the squeaking of his soaking leather boots.
As he got closer, he looked up, causing the rain landing on his head to form rivulets that streamed down his face. In front of him stood the drawbridge, an enormous monolith of oak and steel. It was the only thing separating him from the inside. Aside from this, there didn't seem to be any way inside - no windows, no footholds, nothing to even hint at an alternate entrance. The wall was layed with stones packed so tightly that climbing it would be impossible, especially in the rain. Panic gripped the boy's heart, threatening to eat away at his sanity if he didn't find shelter soon.
Lightning struck directly behind him. The resounding crack ignited the world and, for a brief instant, the landscape became visible for miles. He jolted and spun around, feeling his heart beating rapidly inside his chest.
Suddenly, a noise like the clanking of metal arose from behind. The noise startled the boy and he turned to address this new sound. Yet what he found wasn't a threat, more of a blessing. By some sorcery, the drawbridge was lowering. He stood there for a moment, watching in wonder as the large wooden structure ended its graceful descent with a loud crash. After a few seconds, he hesitantly took a few steps over to the new bridge when he heard a new sound, the trampling of feet.
Suddenly, a large horse, like the ones he read about in the village library, burst forth from the shadows behind the drawbridge, headed directly towards him. He let out a shout and fell backwards, desperately crawling out of the way of the frightened animal.
As the horse sprinted past, he noticed two riders on it's back. One was tall and wearing dark clothing, and the other was smaller, sitting protectively in front of the first rider. The one in front, a young girl dressed in royal robes, was the only one to pay him any mind, looking back at him as they put distance between themselves and the town. He watched them curiously for a few seconds, forgetting the downpour for a moment. He could almost swear he recognized the girl. However, a crash of thunder in the distance jolted him from his thoughts, reminding him of the wind and the rain and his cold, soaked clothes. He turned to head inside.
Yet, the path was blocked again. Directly in front of him stood another horse, even larger than the one before and far more menacing, sporting a set of iron battle armor. Riding atop was an imposing figure wearing a suit of black armor. He had flaming read hair with pronounced widow's peak. Resting in the middle of his forehead was an enormous red jewel. What struck the boy the most was the coat of arms emblazoned on the man's cape, hanging across his shoulder. The crescent moon and star seemed familiar, like something he'd read back home, but he couldn't place it. Instead, he turned his attention back to his face. The man looked around with an angry scowl. The boy could only assume the other two riders were responsible for this fury.
The boy took a cautious step back, the hair on the back of his neck rising. The figure turned his head towards him, a look of pure malice in his eyes. His scowl slowly turned into a wicked grin. He raised a hand and suddenly the boy was enveloped in a white light. He raised his arms to his face and tried to scream but heard only the sounds of the rain against the ground. His limbs grew numb and he fell to his knees. Soon, his vision turned to black and the sounds of the rain faded to nothingness.
o0o
"Hello, Link!"
Link woke with a start, hearing a voice call out to him. He quickly turned over to find the source of the disturbance and was met with a blue fairy floating above him. She was speaking to him in a high-pitched voice and he could just barely make out her face under the bioluminescent light that she gave off.
"Get up Link!" She urged. "The Great Deku Tree wants to speak with you! Do you know how big an honor this is?"
Link groaned and rolled over.
Like I need this.
"Oh c'mon, Link!" She buzzed around the room. "Stop being so lazy!"
Sighing, Link rolled over onto his back and sat up, yawning. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and looked at the floating orb above him. The impatient look on his face did all the talking for him.
"Finally, you're awake!" She said, an exasperated tone in her voice. "You're a really heavy sleeper, you know. I'm Navi, by the way, just in case you were wondering."
Link nodded his head in greeting and she continued.
"The Great Deku Tree wants to see you right away so we'd best hurry. Oh! And he also wants me to be your partner from now on, so you better get used to me!"
Link stared his new fairy, confused.
What? When did this happen? I've never had a fairy so why do I suddenly get one now?
"Well don't just sit there, let's get a move on!"
Link simply sighed and stood up from his bed, ignoring the overwhelming feeling of suspicion that overcame him. He took a second to strap on his boots, making sure to tie them nice and tight, before grabbing his money pouch and heading for the door.
As soon as he pulled the curtain back, he took a deep breath, relishing the smell of the forest. The rainstorm from the previous night was gone and in it's place was a drizzling shower that was left over. He took a few more moments to gaze at the village below his tree-house before he stepped over to the ladder. Suddenly, a voice cut through the air, directed towards him.
"Hey Link!"
Looking down, he saw his friend Saria running down the path towards his house before stopping at the base of the tree. She looked up at him with a bright smile on her face. Noticing the fairy floating around his head, her eyes grew wide. She laughed with excitement and beckoned him to come down.
Link stepped down the ladder and walked over to his friend. She smiled widely and hugged him.
"You finally got a fairy, Link! I'm so happy for you!"
He shrugged his shoulders, smiling. Inwardly, he didn't really believe it. It all seemed so strange; a fairy appearing out of nowhere telling him she's his partner? No, this was just another joke. He expected much pointing and laughing later, the usual from all the kids who thought it was so funny that he was cursed to be without a companion. The only real question that concerned Link was how they conned this Navi into their little game.
"Now you're a true Kokiri!" Saria exclaimed, breaking the hug.
"Yeah, that's great and all," Navi chimed in, "but he has to go see the Great Deku Tree, so he'll have to talk later!"
Once again, Saria's eyes widened.
"Wow, what for?"
"Now that, I don't even know exactly. But we have to hurry."
"Well, okay then. " Saria said before turning to Link with a stern expression. "You better let me know what he says!"
With that she turned around and headed back up the dirt path, waving at him as she rounded the corner.
Definitely a joke.
As soon as Saria was out of sight, Link stepped forward and headed further into the village. Several of the other children stared suspiciously at him and his new fairy while others waved happily towards him. He faked a smile and kept moving.
As Link was taking a detour through a patch of grass between two houses, his foot caught on a hard object half buried in the dirt. He tripped and fell ungracefully to the ground, landing with a loud thud. He groaned and gripped his side, rubbing the area he landed on.
Ouch, that's gonna bruise.
He stood up to find Navi gone. He looked around for a few seconds before he heard a a rustling sound coming from the ground along with a high pitched groaning. He parted the grass and found his blue fairy tugging away at a red rupee impaled in the ground. Laughing, he gripped it in his hand and gave one hard tug, freeing the scarlet gem from it's earthen prison.
I suppose this could come in handy.
"Hey I found it first!" Navi exclaimed.
Link simply shook his head, smiling, and kept walking.
As soon as he reached the tunnel leading into the grove where the Great Deku Tree resided, he was forcibly pushed to the ground. He quickly looked back up to find his attacker. Mido, the self proclaimed leader of the kokiri, stood above him, arms crossed. Standing back up, Link attempted to walk around him only to be held at arms length by the other boy.
"Where do you think you're going, Mr. No-Fairy?" He asked. "What business do you have with the Great Deku Tree, huh?"
Before Link could say anything, Navi chimed in.
"He has asked for Link's presence. It's important." She said.
Mido barely heard her. He looked at the floating ball of light, "And who are you? Why don't you go back to your partner instead of bothering me?"
Navi didn't move. Instead, she smirked at him, "I'm with my partner."
Mido's eyes threatened to bulge out of their sockets. His face grew a deep shade of crimson and he shook his head. He turned to look Link in the eye, shaking with fury.
"Why would the Great Deku Tree summon a wimp like you? He should have asked for me. I'm far more important!"
"Uh...Right. It doesn't matter," Navi responded, "We just need to get inside."
Mido looked furious. "I don't believe it!" He yelled. "I'm not going to let you disturb the Great Deku Tree!"
Suddenly, as if he just had an idea, Mido's face changed from an angry scowl into a smug grin.
"Wait a second, guys. I just changed my mind. I'll let you in, on one condition."
Navi sighed loudly. "And what would that be?"
"You bring me a sword and a shield. Do that and I'll let you in."
"You expect us to bring YOU a sword and shield?"
"If you want me to let you in, then yes." Mido stated simply. Navi let out a loud laugh, not even trying to hide it.
"That's so stupid! Do you even know how to use a sword?"
"O-of course I do!" Mido retorted, put off by Navi's blatant disregard for for his position as leader. "So you just do what you're told and bring me a sword and shield. Then I'll let you see the Great Deku Tree."
"Whatever. C'mon Link."
Link groaned headed towards the store, casting an angry glare back at Mido's smug form.
One of these days, Mido...
o0o
"Honestly, who puts boulder traps in the middle of nowhere? That sword better be worth the trouble!" Navi exclaimed. "You're not actually planning on handing your gear over to that weasel, are you?"
Link shook his head. His new blade was resting comfortably on his back and his wooden shield that he bought with his own money felt right at home in his hand. There was no way that he was giving up his new equipment.
"Good, because we could use these." Navi laughed. "I still can't believe you stole those rupees from Mido's house. He has no idea that he just bought you a shield."
Link gave Navi a subtle smile but didn't say anything, instead opting to continue on down the path towards the spot where Mido was waiting. As he neared, he saw the shock on Mido's face as the boy noticed that Link had actually accomplished his task. That shock soon turned into annoyance and was threatening to boil over into blind anger.
"Hmph." He said, "You got the stuff. Well I guess you can go through. Hand 'em over." He demanded, motioning towards Link's shield.
Link stared back at him, a blank expression on his face.
"Well?" Mido asked, "I'm waiting!"
Link smiled. "Finder's keepers." He said, and took a step around Mido.
Mido exploded. He took off after Link with reckless abandon.
"Hey, that's MY stuff you're walkin' off with! Get back here, you wimp!" He grabbed Link's arm and turned him around.
Link's response was instantaneous. He took Mido by his shirt collar and forced him into the wall.
"I don't have time for this," He spat.
He rammed his fist hard into Mido's stomach, dropping the boy to the ground. Mido landed roughly on the dirt, clutching his body and gasping for air. Link stepped over him and continued through the tunnel that would finally lead him to the grove.
Goddesses that was satisfying.
"Don't you think that was a bit excessive?" Navi asked.
"He had it coming." Link replied, rubbing his sore knuckles.
"If you say so..."
As they turned the next corner, Link came face to face with the largest tree he'd ever laid eyes on. The Great Deku Tree was a massive redwood that stood several stories tall in the middle of a small grove. The bark that stood facing the entrance was arranged in the shape of a face and a dirt path ran all the way down to it's base.
"Hey, we're here, finally!" Navi shouted, seeming excited to be reunited with her friend.
"Thou hast returned, dear Navi." The Great Deku Tree responded in a booming voice, before noticing her partner. "Welcome...Link..."
"Thou must listen...carefully...to what I am about to tell thee."
"Thy slumber these past moons must have been restless...and full of nightmares..."
Link slowly nodded, "Wait, how do you-"
"As the servants of evil gain strength...a vile climate pervades the land...and causes nightmares to those sensitive to it."
Nightmares? Like the one from last night?
"Verily, thou hast felt it. It has come time to test thy courage, link." It said sadly, "I have been cursed. Thou must break this curse using thy wisdom and courage."
Link looked on, shocked at this revelation. Who could possibly curse this great and powerful being? This was the protector of the forest, the one who sustains them all. If the Great Deku Tree fell, it would surely spell doom for the forest. This led Link to his next train of thought.
What help could I possibly be?
"Why me?" He whispered.
"Thou art tied to thy fate the same as everyone, Link." It explained, "Thou alone can break this curse and I am asking thee for thy aid."
For the first time in years Link felt his stomach clench in fear. He didn't know a thing about curses and yet the mighty Deku Tree was begging for his help. What if he couldn't do anything?
"Dost thou have courage enough to undertake this task?"
I don't even know what this task involves!
Link swallowed and replied in a shaky voice, "I think so..."
Seeming to be satisfied with Link's answer, a section of the tree in the front slowly lowered to the ground, creating an opening that looked vaguely like a mouth. The tree then addressed both Link and his fairy.
"Then enter, Link, and thou too, Navi...break this curse. Free me."
The tree fell silent, beckoning Link. He looked on at the opening in the base and gave Navi a questioning look. Was he supposed to just jump inside? What would he find inside that would give any clue about this supposed curse?
As if reading his mind, Navi answered.
"Let's go, Link. Whatever curse is affecting the Great Deku Tree will be found inside."
Link nodded and stepped slowly down the path. Reaching the entrance, he attempted to peer inside, only to be met with blackness. Vague shapes were present in the darkness, daring him to enter. He even caught a slight movement in the corner of his vision. He looked back at Navi who nodded at him. He swallowed the lump in his throat and ducked inside.
This wasn't a joke after all.
A/N
So, how was it? Is it as bad as I think it is? :)
Anyways, this was the first chapter of a story that I've ever actually completed. I finished this sometime around mid-July and it's just sat in my Doc Manager all this time. I don't know why it's taken me this long to put it up, but here it is.
Honestly, I don't think it's very good. There were a lot of things that I could have done with this particular aspect of the story but I decided to just go ahead and throw it to the dogs. It will get better later, I promise.
So yeah, this is going to be a story involving Link and Navi and their journey's across Hyrule during Ocarina of Time. Now it's not going to play out exactly like the game, but it will follow the general plot-line. There will be plenty of extra dialogue, completely new scenes, and even some romance. Now, I'm not going to spoil too much, but I really think this story has some potential.
With that, I'd like to thank you for joining me and I hope you enjoyed reading this a little more than I enjoyed writing it.
:P